This paper presents a structured lesson plan designed to introduce students to assistive technology (AT) in the classroom. It defines assistive technology as an umbrella term covering assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities, and outlines three levels of tools: low tech (magnifying bar), mid tech (Time Timer), and high tech (computer with voice recognition software). The plan details lesson objectives, required materials, step-by-step classroom procedures, accommodations for hearing- and speech-impaired students, and assessment methods. The lesson emphasizes practical, hands-on experience within a Least Restrictive Environment framework, helping students understand how AT supports learning, social interaction, and future employment prospects.
Assistive technology is an umbrella term comprising assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities (Andresen, 2007, p. 11). It also includes the procedures used in selecting, locating, and using these devices. In order for students to understand how these tools can be used in the classroom — or how they can assist people with disabilities — they must first understand what these devices are. A brief introduction to what assistive technology is and what kinds are available will allow students to develop a firmer grasp on the subject.
An important point the lesson covers is why assistive technology is used. Assistive technology increases a student's chances for a quality education, improves social interactions, and enhances prospects for meaningful employment (Robitaille, 2010, p. 54). It also enables and encourages a student's participation in learning activities within the least restrictive environment. Assistive technology is a means to aid students and enable them to benefit more from the general education curriculum, as well as to access supplementary activities in family, school, and work settings. Using these tools, along with materials such as magazine clippings, scissors, pens, and paper, students will express ideas related to time and setting, and interpret images they collect — with the tools making the process easier and faster.
In keeping with the principles of a Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), students will begin with low-tech tools, then progress to mid-tech and high-tech tools. This progression allows them to develop a variety of strategies for utilizing each level of assistive technology and to build broader skills for access and learning ("Assistive Technology").
Low-tech tools are simple, ready-to-use tools that require no electricity — for example, a magnifying bar. Many people who experience disability may have difficulty reading, whether due to dyslexia, vision problems, or other conditions. Magnifying bars are relatively inexpensive (approximately $4) and come in various magnification levels, increasing the size of the area being viewed.
Mid-tech tools are small, portable, handheld devices that operate primarily on battery power. One mid-tech tool the class will use is a Time Timer. A Time Timer provides a visual representation of elapsed time, available in sizes ranging from 3 inches to 8 and 12 inches. Students see a graphic representation — shown in red — of the time remaining for an assignment as the clock counts down.
High-tech tools, such as computer hardware, require electricity to operate and are generally more expensive. One example of a high-tech tool the class will use is a computer equipped with voice recognition software, which is particularly helpful for students who have vision problems or difficulty using a keyboard, allowing them to speak commands rather than type and to hear output rather than read it.
The lesson objectives are as follows: to learn what assistive technology is and why it is used in the classroom; to learn how to use a low-tech tool; to learn how to use a mid-tech tool; and to learn how to use a high-tech tool. Understanding the purpose of each tool within the classroom will be emphasized, with particular attention to how these tools can be useful in everyday academic tasks such as reading and mathematics.
The K-12 College and Career Ready Standards provide specialized progressions, instructional resources, and materials to support the development and application of standards in Mathematics, English Language Arts, Literacy in History, Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects. These standards also encompass K-12 academic standards in social studies, science, and educational technology. The standards were adopted in 2010 following extensive public review by the State Board of Education, and schools began the implementation process in 2013.
The materials required for this lesson are: a magnifying bar, a Time Timer, and a computer with voice recognition software. These items are straightforward to acquire and use — the magnifying bar costs approximately $4, the Time Timer approximately $15, and voice recognition software can be installed on most standard computers. In addition, each student will need a pen, paper, a couple of magazines, glue sticks, and scissors, as they will use these supplies alongside the tech tools to build a diagram.
The introduction will focus on what assistive technology is and why it is used. This will be discussed as a class, with students sharing their ideas on the board about what assistive technology devices might be and what examples they can think of. Students will then be divided into three groups, each introduced to a different tech tool.
"Group activities using each tech tool"
"Modifications, grading, and extra resources"
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